Tuesday, August 30, 2011

After The Storm: Que Sera, Sera

After a hurricane it's amazing how calm, still and beautiful everything is, including the destruction.

The temps are warm, Billboards on the island bridge are ripped and crashed and left floating in the marshes, yet they look like a modern sculptures rising up like a Phoenix from the ashes.

The sun shines blindingly bright, and the colors are more intense now that the gray is gone. Even the downed trees have a certain beauty in their chaos.

The same can be said for what's going on with my mom.

When I finally made it through the traffic, off the expressway & back to the hospital around 12:30 yesterday afternoon yesterday, my mother's eyes were open and she was cognisant and attempting to talk back to me - except she couldn't because she still was connected to the vent.

The Doctors were shocked that she was no longer in septic shock.

And last night when I left, they'd given her pain meds and she was snoring through her breathing & feeding tubes.

If all goes well today, they will remove her breathing tube.

Yesterday afternoon I held her hand, sang Rhianna's "Umbrella" song very badly (because for some reason, my mom likes Rhianna,) and my voice - which only a mother could love.

But mostly I talked about how amazing she's doing, and I'd sing bits of her favorite song - The very same song she'd sing to me as little girl while she was brushing my hair:

When I was just a little girl,

I asked my mother, 'What will I be?

'Will I be pretty?

'Will I be rich?'

Here's what she said to me:

'Que sera, sera,

'Whatever will be, will be;

'The future's not ours to see.

'Que sera, sera,

'What will be, will be.

When I grew up and fell in love,

I asked my sweetheart, 'What lies ahead?

'Will we have rainbows

'day after day?'

Here's what my sweetheart said:

'Que sera, sera,

'Whatever will be, will be;

'The future's not ours to see.

'Que sera, sera,

'What will be, will be.'

Now I have children of my own,

They ask their mother, 'What will I be?

'Will I be handsome?

'Will I be rich?'

I tell them tenderly:

'Que sera, sera,

'Whatever will be, will be;

'The future's not ours to see.

'Que sera, sera,

'What will be, will be.'

(finale)QUE SERA SER

I'm on my way to the hospital now, and while I still believe she has more rounds to fight and that there is more work to be done - Your continued positive thoughts, vibes, and prayers are indeed working! My hope still floats, and the glass is remains half full.

If today is a better day than yesterday - Then it will be a wonderful day.

And I thank you all from the bottom of my imperfect pancreas for how you've ALL been there for us!

I don't know what we would do without you!

UPDATE: They have removed her vent. She's on a ang tube for meds and oxygen. Her vocal cords are very bruised and she has thrush. She's still on antibiotics & they put her on some morphine for pain this afternoon after they removed the vent and put the ang tube through her nose, so she's very groggy and very sleepy. . She's having a belly catscan today at 2:30.

Belly catscan was fine, blood gasses are normal, she told me to hurry up and get home because I had a long drive and physical therapy starts tomorrow.

Good thoughts! When I was 16, my mom almost died...she had a routine surgery but the doctor made a mistake and nicked her bowel, which caused her to go into septic shock. Luckily (or miraculously) everything turned out OK, but it was a long battle for her on the path to getting better. I'll be thinking of you and your mom!

Kelly, what wonderful news! I'm so happy that she is off of the vent, and hopefully with her being off of the vent now and being awake, things will be much easier. I'm happy that you both made it through the storm safely! You, your mom, and your family will continue to be in my prayers! I hope that the ng tube isn't too irritating to her and is a temporary thing! Those are not fun, but necessary at times, and can be so helpful. (hugs) <3 Lots of love, prayers, good vibes and thoughts, and hope for good progress!

That is such great news, Kelly. I was in that very same situation 6 months ago with my mom (substitute a blizzard for the hurricane) and I know the relief that any good news can bring. Keep doing what you're doing and we'll keep up the prayers and good thoughts!

Your good news was the BEST NEWS EVER! I'm so glad your mom is weathering her own hurricane and that you weathered yours. And you even brought tears to my eyes as I read it (Que Sera Sera did me in!) Here's to more smooth sailing for your Mom!

Lauren's Hope

HealthLine Best Diabetes Blogs 2017

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs 2016

Healthline Best Diabetes Blogs

Spare A Rose..... Save A Child

What People Are Saying About Kelly Kunik's Diabetesalicious Humor

"I laughed so hard I puked all over my pump -Just kidding......

Kelly's intimate knowledge of living with diabetes makes her the perfect person to poke fun at all of our little eccentricities. If laughter really is the best medicine, then Kelly should be nominated for Sturgeon General."Gary Scheiner - Certified Diabetes Educator, Owner & Operator of Integrated Diabetes Services, Author of "You Can Control Diabetes" and "How to Think Like A Pancreas."Marx Brothers Fan for life, T1 for 20 years .

"Kelly Kunik performed her Diabetes Comedy Act at the Diabetes, Exercise, & Sports Association (DESA) National meeting in Colorado Springs in June of 2007. She had the room laughing all night! It was great to see the light side of Diabetes for once...."

Rick Philbin, Type 1, Board of Directors, DESA

"Kelly was very engaging with her humor and positive attitude in looking at life with Diabetes on a lighter side. Everyone in my Diabetes Support group lowered their glucose levels with laughter that evening!"

Bryony Crane, RD CDE

Virtua Diabetes and Nutrition Svs

"Dr. Kelly keeps you laughing.......Great bedside manner!"

Boston Charlie - T1 30 years

"As a Diabetes Educator, I'm always looking for new ways to help patients. Kelly Kunik offers a unique way of educating patients through laughter.There's a tremendous validation in Kelly's approach - Everybody thinks that no one once else has diabetes related issues, day & day out. Whether it getting your tubing caught on a door nob; acting out with a low blood sugar, or dealing with the same old questions. Silly or serious, Kelly's observations allow patients to feel better about themselves.When people feel good about themselves, they practice betterself management. IT'S ALL GOOD.We all had so much fun the night Kelly spoke to my Type 1 support group."